Tour description
Stage 1
Along the Alvierbach stream via the Schattenlagantweg trail to the valley station of the Lünerseebahn cable car. Take the cable car up to the Douglass Hütte or walk over the "Bösen Tritt". Follow the lakeshore on the left and the initially steeply ascending circular trail. After around 20 minutes, turn left towards the Lünerkrinne (2,155 m). The continuation leads over the Lünerkrinne, past the Gipsköpfle (1,975 m), to the first overnight accommodation, the Heinrich-Hueter-Hütte at 1,766 m.
Duration: approx. 5 hours with the Lünerseebahn or 6 hours via the "Bösen Tritt"
Overnight stay: Heinrich-Hueter-Hütte | T +43 55 56 765 70 | info@hueterhuette.at | www.hueterhuette.at
Stage 2
First a short descent into the Rellstal valley. After the Zaluanda stream, turn right and follow it southwards. From the Untere Zaluanda Alpe you leave the goods road and follow an increasingly steep mountain path. At the Schweizertor (2,139 m), you are rewarded with a breathtaking view to the south. The tour now crosses the border into Switzerland. On the Swiss side, there is a somewhat longer ascent to the Gafalljoch. Once you reach the Gafalljoch, you have a breathtaking view of Lake Lünersee before the hike continues along the Rätikon High Trail South to the Schesaplana Hütte.
Duration: approx. 7 hours
Overnight stay: Schesaplana Hütte | T +41 81 325 11 63 | info@schesaplana-huette.ch | www.schesaplana-huette.ch
Stage 3
From the Schesaplana Hütte, the trail leads up to the Große Furka (2,359 m). The mountain path leads past two glacial streams after around 20 minutes. The continuation leads north of the main ridge, initially descending more steeply, then less steeply, into the rocky, flat area around the Barthümeljoch. The path to the Pfälzerhütte (2,108 m) follows the contour line. It crosses the steep eastern flank of the Naafkopf. (Those who spend the night at the Pfälzerhütte have the opportunity to enjoy a magnificent sunrise on the Naafkopf (2,570 m) the next morning).
The route from the Pfälzerhütte to Malbun then follows the wide pastures of the Alp Gritsch to the Tälehöhe and down via the Vaduzer-Täli. Overnight accommodation in Malbun can be found here - Liechtenstein Tourism.
Duration: approx. 7 hours
Overnight accommodation: Pfälzerhütte | T +423 263 36 79 | pfaelzerhuette@alpenverein.li | www.alpenverein.li
Please note: If you spend the night at the Pfälzerhütte, stage 3 is shortened and stage 4 is extended! From the Pfälzerhütte on day 4, you can descend via the Fürstin-Gina-Weg directly to the Sareiser Joch and from there - as described in stage 4 - to the Nenzinger Himmel.
Stage 4
The route from the Pfälzerhütte to Malbun follows the wide pastures of the Alp Gritsch to the Tälehöhe and over the Vaduzer-Täli down to the Sareis chairlift. From there you have the option of taking the cable car or walking up to the Sareis mountain station (2,000 m). Shortly after the Sareiserjoch, instead of taking the mountain path up to the Augstenberg (2,359 m), choose the descent on the left down the mountain flank via Alp Sareis (1,860 m) in the direction of Nenzinger Himmel, where you can take a lunch break. Well fortified, the path then follows the lively Schalanza mountain stream (road) uphill. At the fork in the path below Hirschsee lake, turn left towards Alpe Setsch (1,722 m), along a flat section of path with far-reaching views over the Gamperdonatal valley, Augstenberg and Naafkopf. From the Amatschonjoch, the trail then descends via the Gulma-Steig to the mountain station of the Dorfbahn cable car. From there, either take the gondola or walk back to Brand.
Duration: approx. 6 hours (with cable car, otherwise 1 hour extra)
Tips:
We recommend surefootedness, a head for heights and alpine experience. You can divide the ascent per day and hours according to the weather and your needs.
The times given are approximate. Depending on fitness, weather conditions or other circumstances, the walking time may be shorter or longer.
